Simulated necktie knot

ABSTRACT

A simulated knot formed of sheet material or of plastic formed in an injection molding machine, preferably covered and padded, is bent around to form a front portion visible as a simulated knot and rear portions, the edges of which terminate in spaced relation to provide a slot for the easy insertion of the ends of the necktie, the device being provided with means therein for gripping the tie to prevent the device from slipping downwardly along the ends of the tie.

United States Patent Calhoun, Sr. 1 May 30, 1972 54] SIMULATED NECKTIE KNOT 2,172,849 9/1939 Peters ..2/150 [72] inventor: Jerry J. Calhoun, Sr 393 Lewis Blvd. 3,334,355 8/1967 Calhoun ..2/|50 8.15., St. Petersburg, Fla. 33705 [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 877,143

52 us. Cl .[2/150 51 im. Cl. .A41d 25/02 [58] FieldoiSearch ..2/150, 153

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,381 3/1932 Brinkley ..2/l50 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-Victor J. Evans & Co.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A simulated knot formed of sheet material or of plastic formed in an injection molding machine, preferably covered and padded, is bent around to form a front portion visible as a simulated knot and rear portions, the edges of which terminate in spaced relation to provide a slot for the easy insertion of the ends of the necktie, the device being provided with means therein for gripping the tie to prevent the device from slipping downwardly along the ends of the tie.

'1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION on the same general principle as the present one is disclosed and claimed. In the prior construction, the simulated knot is formed of sheet material bent horizontally substantially into oval shape with split ends in the back of the knot" which overlap each other. A rubber wedge and a ball adapted to be entered thereinto are arranged within the knot to grip the ends of the tie thereagainst to prevent the slipping of the tie and the device relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device comprises a simulated necktie knot formed of preferably hard sheet material bent horizontally to place the ends of the device at the back thereof so that the front is smoothly continuous to simulate a knot in the necktie, particularly when the device is covered with fabric or other material preferably matching the necktie. The knot may be formed of plastic, if desired, by plastic injection molding machine, and then covered with a soft outer lining followed by the covering of such material with a good quality cloth. The

ends of the device at the back thereof terminate in spaced generally parallel relationship to provide an open slot through which the ends of the tie may be easily introduced, and the spaced edges of the device at the back thereof have lips centrally of their height bent inwardly, to provide stops behind which the tie will be engaged to prevent its slipping out of the slot.

An operating device in the form of upper and lower relatively movable elements biased apart by a spring are connected to an upper ball, and these elements, when in operative position, grip the tie ends against the inner surface of the knot to prevent the device from slipping downwardly over the tie. The relatively movable elements, when relatively pushed toward each other lift the ball to a position thereabove for the ready insertion of the device into the knot and after being so pushed, the parts are released so that the ball will be pulled downwardly. The relatively movable elements and the ball serve to grip the tie ends in the knot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the simulated knot showing portions of the necktie associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a similar view without the tie showing other elements of the device in solid and dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing different positions of the relatively movable parts, the power portion of the simulated knot being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a face view of the blank for the simulated knot before it is bent;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the device showing the simulated knot covered with a fabric or other material;

FIG. 9 is a similar view showing resilient padding underlying the cover; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a simulated knot for a necktie shown as surrounding the lower portions of a necktie 12 having ends 14. The knot" 10 comprises a blank 16 (FIG. 6) formed of flat sheet material such as plastic or aluminum having tabs or lips 18 at the ends thereof. The blank 16 is bent horizontally into substantially oval form as shown in FIG. 4 and the ends 20 of the blank terminate in spaced parallel relation as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to form a slot 22 for the introduction of the tie ends as described below. After the body is bent as described, the tabs 18 are bent inwardly into the device for a purpose to be described. If desired the knot may be formed plastic as described above.

The body of the device may be and preferably is provided with a cover 24 (FIG. 8) which may be of woven fabric or any other material. This cover normally will match thematerial of the necktie, although it may be of contrasting color and material, if desired. Preferably, a resilient padding 26 (FIG. 9) of foam rubber or the like will underlie the cover 24 to give it the feel of a knot and relieving the face of the device of any appearance of mechanical stiffness.

Means are provided for gripping the tie within the knot" 10. This means comprises upper and lower elements 28 and 30 (FIG. 5), the former of which is hollow and is internally shouldered at the bottom thereof as at 32. The lower element 30 is in the nature of a handle having a reduced upwardly extending hollow neck 34 projecting through an opening 36 in the bottom wall of the member 28 and provided at the upper end with a tapered head 38. The two parts 28 and 30 are preferably formed of plastic and possess a sufficient degree of resiliency to permit the head 38 to be forced upwardly through the opening 36 so that the head 38 may be supported at the shoulder 32.

The upper end of the member 28 is apertured as at 40 for the projection therethrough of a stem 42, the lower end of which lies within the handle 30 and is headed as at 44. A spring 46 surrounds the stem 42 to bias the members 28 and 30 relatively away from each other. A ball 48 is fixed to the upper end of the stem 42 and may be formed of plastic or any other suitable material.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 wherein a rubberband is substituted for the spring 46. The simulated knot 10 is provided therebelow with the same type of cup 28 and finger piece 30. In this case, however, a rubber band 50 extends at its upper end into the ball 40 and a pin 52 extends through the loop of the band. The lower end of the band extends into the finger piece 30 and is similarly connected thereto by a pin 54. The band 50 is stretched in FIG. 10, and when released, the ball 48 and member 28 move relatively toward each other.

OPERATION When the device is to be attached to a tie, it will be turned sideways, that is, rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 4, whereupon the knot" is moved so that the tie ends may pass relatively through the 'slot 22 into the interior of the device. Care should be taken that the tie ends are entirely clear of the tabs and are properly positioned with the outer tie end against the inner face of the front of the device. The knot" will then be slid upwardly along the tie in a position in proximity to the collar whereupon the device comprising the elements 28 to 48 is inserted in the bottom of the device. By pushing upwardly on the head or handle 30 and pulling downwardly on the upper element 28, the ball 48 will be pushed into its limit of movement above the member 28. This combination of elements is then inserted into the body with the element 28 in the position shown in FIG. 5, whereupon the head 30 is released and the shouldered head 38 will be moved action on the tie, particularly against the lips 18, thus fixing the knot" against slipping downwardly over the tie ends.

The device is readily applied in the manner described above and will be neat and attractive in appearance, the members 28 and 30 being hidden behind the tie so that only the cover of the body of the device will show, except for the tie itself. All members of the uniformed personnel will thus be provided with ties which will be identical with each other.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved simulated necktie knot which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A simulated knot for neckties comprising a sheet of material of substantially oval shape in horizontal section to provide a solid front portion tapering to decrease in width downwardly, said sheet of material tenninating at the rear of the knot in spaced parallel edges to form a slot for the insertion of the ends of a necktie therein, means insertable into said knot and engageable with the ends of the tie to fix said knot against vertical sliding movement relative to the tie, said means insertable into said knot comprising a stem, a ball at the upper end of said stem, a pair of elements vertically movable relative to each other, and a spring surrounding said stem and biasing said vertically movable members vertically apart so that when such device is inserted in said knot, said ball will be moved relatively closer to the upper of said vertically movable members, the upper of said vertically movable members being hollow and provided with a bottom wall forming a shoulder, the lower of said vertically movable members having a hollow stern projecting into said upper member and terminating therein a shoulder engageable with said first-named shoulder to limit movement of said vertically movable members away from each other. 

1. A simulated knot for neckties comprising a sheet of material of substantially oval shape in horizontal section to provide a solid front portion tapering to decrease in width downwardly, said sheet of material terminating at the rear of the knot in spaced parallel edges to form a slot for the insertion of the ends of a necktie therein, means insertable into said knot and engageable with the ends of the tie to fix said knot against vertical sliding movement relative to the tie, said means insertable into said knot comprising a stem, a ball at the upper end of said stem, a pair of elements vertically movable relative to each other, and a spring surrounding said stem and biasing said vertically movable members vertically apart so that when such device is inserted in said knot, said ball will be moved relatively closer to the upper of said vertically movable members, the upper of said vertically movable members being hollow and provided with a bottom wall forming a shoulder, the lower of said vertically movable members having a hollow stem projecting into said upper member and terminating therein a shoulder engageable with said first-named shoulder to limit movement of said vertically movable members away from each other. 